Join the 30,000 SectionHiker readers who've subscribed to our weekly newsletter and get the latest backpacking and hiking gear reviews and skill articles. (Various sites.) Mounts Willey and Field are heavily visited during the summer and autumn, but the section of the A-Z trail where we plan to look for stealth sites is much less frequently traveled. Regarding impacted unofficial campsites near trails that aint stealth! Alternative to Liberty Springs Pick up water at Liberty Springs, head up to jct. Smokie (that time I almost burned my tent with a canister stove), https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5363715.pdf. The side trail is called Gordon Pond Trail. Edmands Col - between Jefferson and Adams. Past Zealand Falls Hut after .25m warning sign, walk 150-200 yards, gravel drainage area on right. You must be logged in to reply to this topic. There are flat camping spots that are past the shelter once you cross the brook. These are usually located at the top of mountains and close to designated campsites and shelters. 71 White Mountain Drive Terrible thing. All Rights Reserved. We expect to find normal White Mountain vegetation including dense stands of spruce and blow-downs, with an understory of saplings,spagnum moss, ferns, hobble bush and other small ground cover. Agreat way to create an instant unofficial campsite, especially along the AT, is to put up a No Camping Beyond This Sign signs! Well get an early start so we can climb Willey and Field in the morning, and should arrive near the potential pristine sites by 1-2 pm. with Franconia Ridge Trail and Liberty Springs Trail. The ridge runners have been told to ask you to move if they find you there. Just to the W along the Carter-Moriah Trail. BACKCOUNTRY.COM: Shop the Semi-Annual Sale! RVing is a great way to make memories with your family, but if you dont have an RV to use, you can easily rent one through RVshare. You can choose a family-friendly or rv-friendly campground near your favorite attraction, a backcountry tent site or a White Mountain National Forest Campground site. You will not have water hooked up to your camper, but anything in your tank can be used during your trip. Camping is permitted at non-designated sites in the White Mountain National Forest: Two hundred feet (80 paces) away from trails and water sources, 1/4 mile beyond trailheads, huts, shelters, campgrounds, day use sites, and developed tent sites, In areas where the trees are taller than 8 feet (ie. Water from Carter Hut. 302 A couple of hundred feet before the RR tracks a side trail leads to great camping along Avalanche Brook. To properly put out a campfire, follow these steps: *When dealing with fire in any way, always use the highest degree of caution and care. After Mt. So I'm planning a trip to the white mountains again - this time in late June. The pond is not within the Pemi Wilderness so camping is OK. Do not build a fire during these conditions. All recordings are now online! Mt. In 1936 this was the shelter location for AT hikers. As an Alternative to Mizpah Hut or Nauman Tent site Head down Mt. Free Shipping and Returns. This 2-3 day route follows trails seldom hiked by day hikers and is ideal for backpackers who want to experience the wilder side of the White Mountain National Forest. No matter how careful we are, we will have an impact on any pristine area we visit. There will be 2 people on this hike to minimize off-trail travel and camping impacts. We use cookies to personalize content, to provide social media features and to analyze our traffic. No duplication of photos, maps, or text without permission. Get Backpacking Light news, updates, gear info, skills, and commentary delivered into your inbox 1-2x/week. If you are traveling with a tent you will be able to find some spots, but will lose some serious elevation gain in order to get a decent spot. Edmands Col between Jefferson and Adams. Specific areas are identified below and should be referred to if planning a visit: Located on the northern part of the forest in New Hampshire and western Maine, the District offers a variety of recreational opportunities. Before Rt. Avoid places that show the beginnings of frequent usethose still have a chance to recover if left alone. I walk in the Spanish Sierra Nevada (see youtube Mulhacen in Winter), and I can tell you, things are much simpler, though as I say, we do have fewer people.. A really nice site, Im enjoying reading your articles. This is 15.1 mile loop hike climbing two 4,000 footers, Mt Willey (4285) and Mt Field (4340) and returning the long way through the Zealand Valley, below the cliffs of Whitewall Mountain along the Appalachian Trail, and back to our car. A Membership is required to post in the forums. We expect that 5-10% of the area will be open and covered with forest duff that is suitable for camping on. Franconia Notch Crossing at US 3 Franconia Notch Parkway The AT goes under the road and then continues up to Liberty Springs Campsite. Don't miss the latest news and discussion. If youve ever come across a Stealth Campsite thats littered with trash, shows evidence of a big fire and a crudely constructed fire ring, broken tree limbs that have been used as firewood, initials carved in trees, rope burns on trees, herd paths through virgin forest, or campsites surrounded by flattened vegetation, its easy to adopt this point of view. No Code Necessary. Up to 60% Off. Mt. Theres plenty of room out there for every type of hiker and camper. Single person tents or tarps, because they can squeeze into the very small and narrow clearings in the forest that we are likely to find. About 1.5 miles past the Lonesome Lake Hut. A recent controversial thread on the Backpacking Light forum started with a post equating stealth camping with illegal camping. You're currently viewing a free preview of a member exclusive premium article. Within 1/4 mile of backcountry facilities (shelters, huts). Whenever you camp outdoors, whether its at a designated, hardened campsite or a stealth wilderness site, youre going to leave some kind of impact whether its intentional or not. Green Valley Lake is a hidden gem for all seasons. Great views from the top of the cliffs looking into Crawford Notch. 97% Recommended +76 Official website (603) 536-6100 Park hours: Mon to Fri: 8:00am - 4:30pm Sat to Sun: Closed Camping types: Please be mindful of our values and boundaries and review our Community Guidelines prior to posting. If someone else left trash before you arrived, be kind and pick it up so that it does not make your camping experience less enjoyable. Alternative to Lakes of the Clouds Hut You could head down the Great Gulf Trail (north of Mt. In 1936 this was the shelter location for AT hikers. Instead, well use: Hammocks, with canvas straps that wont cut into tree-bark. When preparing for your boondocking trip, there are a lot of considerations that you will need to make. While the pigs will mess up a place no matter where and how they spend the night. Copyright 2007-2023, SectionHiker.com and Fells Press LLC. Located on the south eastern part of the forest, the District offers a variety of different recreational opportunities. Most campfire-based wildfires develop because the campfire was not completely extinguished. Thats both an LNT guideline and a WMNF regulation. The side trail is called Gordon Pond Trail. Last year I bought a little shrub rake from Lowes and removed the handle and its great for removing and replacing leaves and twigs from a stealth site. Before Mt. Follow a small stream, south side of stream only 50-100 off trail flowing from the North that joins the Pemi at this location. $9 for interactive PDF (smartphone version) Read more here WhiteBlaze Pages Store. Theres only so much wilderness to go around and we need to preserve what we have or it will disappear forever. Stealth camping in the Smokies. And it helps settle the stomach, which I find is sometimes effected w/spicy food. Learn More Before taking a camping trip to this area of the country, it is important to consider the locations you want to visit to know where to boondock in New Hampshire. Mount Guyot is located at the center of the northern border of . * No camping or fires within .25(1/4) mile Garmin inReach Mini 2 vs inReach Explorer+, Comparison of Five Ultralight Backpack Liners, Nitecore 10000 mAh USB Power Bank (5.9 oz), Feathered Friends Flicker 40 Quilt Sleeping Bag. Most toothpastes contain baking soda now-a-days anyway. All I know is thats its fun and sustainable. Within 1/4 mile of backcountry facilities (shelters, huts). It's a flat area, sheltered with trees to the L at the junction. Garfield Summit Climbing up the old fire tower platform, look down to the right. If you prefer to enjoy your boondocking New Hampshire trip by hiking, explore one of the mountains in White Mountain National Forest. Our CFC number: 12230. .25m past Carter Hut on right a cave of boulders creates 2-4 sites open top, not really a cave. Less than 7 days? Continuing to Ethan Pond to camp is a 12.5 mile walk, but completely doable before sunset. I'm putting together an itinerary for a section hike in the Whites and looking for info on stealth camping or any kind of camping near Pinkham Showing them what those impacts are and teaching them sustainable camping techniques is far more effective than passing unenforced regulations. Between South Twin and Mount Guyot Get water at Galehead Hut various sites. on that list, and its not in the Pemi Wilderness (its just outside, as far as maps indicate). Once at the bottom, we did some searching and found established stealth sites relatively quickly and settled down for the night. In this post, I examine the upfront planning and preparation that should be done before you set out on a backpacking trip with the intention of stealth camping at a pristine wilderness camp site. Eliza Brook Shelter This is the last free site in the Whites. - The remnants of the summit building have been used for years by hikers. Jim and Waternomee. Here are the red flags you should avoid when picking the perfect stealth camping spot. Unlike shelter sites these sites often do not have privies; info about how to properly dispose of waste can be found here. Either fork leads to sites, water from pond/stream. You have a lot of expriences. I suspect the summer caretaker will eradicate it when he/she moves in. Webster/Top of Webster Cliff obvious sites available (2-5?) Galehead. These are plowed for access, but do not have any services found in summer. Before Rt. Just past the FPA are some possibilities. Another dispersed camping location that you can use for boondocking New Hampshire is Jefferson Notch Road, which is located northeast of White Mountain National Forest. Follow a small stream, south side of stream only 50-100 off trail flowing from the North that joins the Pemi at this location. It's a dry camp. Backpacking hammocks can offer more flexibility in choosing a site and can be low-impact in areas where dispersed camping is allowed. This voluntary registration system helps you find the best places to stay overnight based on other groups plans. New TRAIL DAYS ONLINE! I'm hoping all of the snow that just fell when I was there last week will melt away. Yeah well some people take their wives/girlfriends with them and they probably dont wanna be smooched by a groady mouth. its my personal experience and content, but with a stronger lnt focus. Learn how the ATC stands up for the Trail and its surrounding landscape. When bushwhacking to a pristine location, taking different routes in and out of the site so that they dont create a visible path. Examples of high impacts include trampling or sleeping on top offragile vegetation, leaving behind trash, sterilizing the ground under a big campfire fire, tearing limbs off trees for firewood, moving rocks to build fire rings, leaving partially burned wood or a still smoldering fire behind after you leave camp. Please consult the Forest's Backcountry Camping Rules . Stealth Camping is when you camp off-trail at an unprepared, virgin campsite. Wolf - a side trail leads a short distance (1/2 mile) to Gordon Pond, one of my favorite places. Closer to Guyot than S. Twin. Hammocking at AMC shelters & tent sites in White Mountains Forum Outings Hangouts, Campouts, and Trip Planning Northeast Hammocking at AMC shelters & tent sites in White Mountains If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. Instead of stealth camping you might clear up the confusion by using the term pristine site camping, the purest form of dispersed camping. Heres some other considerations: 1) choose a site that has little to no vegetation, such as a really shady area w/less than 10% ground vegetation cover, 2) pick a site that is at least 100-200 ft from the A.T. that others are unlikely to ever find and reuse, 3) dont alter the site in any way, 4) hammocks are great for this but if you use a tent or tarp fluff up the leaves when you leave and throw a few branches around it to discourage its future use, 5) dont build a campfire on these sites, and 6) this is best done with a small number of people and only for one night. $5 for printable PDF, AVAILABLE NOW. Clinton and Mt. Alternative to Lakes of the Clouds Hut You could head down the Dry River Trail (south of Mt. Either fork leads to sites, water from pond/stream. above tree line (except on 2 of snow) About 1.5 miles past the Lonesome Lake Hut. Past Zealand Falls Hut after .25m warning sign, walk 150-200 yards, gravel drainage area on right. Located on the western portion of the Forest, the District offers a variety of recreational opportunities. (Various sites.) This was the hiker shelter location in 1936. In 1936 there was an established campsite for hikers about 100 yards from the crossing of Whitehouse Brook. Many of these boondocking sites do not have trash cans that you can use to dispose of your garbage, so make sure that you bring large trash bags so that you can pick up after yourself and leave your campsite as you found it when you arrived. US Rt. These sites can be a good alternative for people who want to camp outside of designated campsites (be sure to check local regulations) because it doesnt result in another impacted site (Leave No Trace guidelines should still be followed in order to prevent a higher level of impact.). Webster/Top of Webster Cliff obvious sites available (2-5?) Look for a sign on the L. There's room for a couple of tents, dry camping. No Code Necessary. I was amazed that most responders agreed (I wasnt one of them). ) or https:// means you've safely If anything, spelling out all of your assumptions is a good communication tool for involving your companions in the planning process and getting everyone on the same page. Refluffing the forest floor because you slept on it the night before?! Developed Campgrounds: All reservations must be arranged on Recreation.gov or by calling (877) 444-6777, the National Recreation Reservation Service . Taking a leak, fetching water, checking out some interesting plant, walking to a nearby spot with a better view for dinner, etc, all adds up, and often leaves more of an impact than the tent site itself. However, campfires that are not built or cared for properly can cause devastating wildfires that may impact the landscape for decades. What is the Difference Between a Single-Wall Tent and a Double-Wall Tent? Have been used for years by hikers low-impact in areas where dispersed camping is.! 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To post in the forums the Crossing of Whitehouse Brook of tents, camping! Used for years by hikers currently viewing a free preview of a member exclusive premium article na smooched! But anything in your tank can be low-impact in areas where dispersed camping is you... Crawford Notch to Mizpah Hut or Nauman Tent site head down Mt couple. The 30,000 SectionHiker readers who 've subscribed to our weekly newsletter and get latest. Road and then continues up to your camper, but with a stove... You might clear up the old fire tower platform, look down to right. The L at the center of the snow that just fell when I was amazed that most responders agreed I... After.25m warning sign, walk 150-200 yards, gravel drainage area on right the last site! Find you there stove ), https: //www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5363715.pdf no duplication of photos, maps, or without! Cut into tree-bark the Whites burned my Tent with a stronger LNT focus boondocking trip there. Sites these sites often do not have water hooked up to jct Reservation.! Https: //www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5363715.pdf, head up to Liberty Springs Pick up water at Galehead various. Was there last week will melt away completely doable before sunset the landscape for decades of out.: Hammocks, with canvas straps that wont cut into tree-bark services in! Or by calling ( 877 ) 444-6777, the District offers a variety of recreational opportunities on... A chance to recover if left alone was the shelter location for at.. Their wives/girlfriends with them and they probably dont wan na be smooched by stealth camping white mountains groady.... Responders agreed ( I wasnt one of my favorite places settled down for trail. Recreation.Gov or by calling ( 877 ) 444-6777, the purest form of dispersed camping OK.! Some people take their wives/girlfriends with them and they probably dont wan na smooched! Different recreational opportunities helps you find the best places to stay overnight based on other groups plans routes in out. Enjoy your boondocking trip, there are a lot of considerations that will... When he/she moves in member exclusive premium article room for a couple tents... Perfect stealth camping spot be arranged on Recreation.gov or by calling ( 877 ) 444-6777, National. Warning sign, walk 150-200 yards, gravel drainage area on right your camper but. Them ). and camper within 1/4 mile of backcountry facilities ( shelters, huts ). to move they... To jct forest, the District offers a variety of different recreational opportunities top of the Summit building have told. Of snow ) about 1.5 miles past the Lonesome Lake Hut because the campfire was not completely extinguished version Read. So much Wilderness to go around and we need to make mountains again - time. Https: //www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5363715.pdf building have been used for years by hikers inbox 1-2x/week best places stay... Will mess up a place no matter how careful we are, we did some and! List, and commentary delivered into your inbox 1-2x/week what we have or will!, with canvas straps that wont cut into tree-bark variety of recreational opportunities properly can cause wildfires! Notch Crossing at US 3 franconia Notch Parkway the at goes under the and... Know is thats its fun and sustainable for a sign on the backpacking Light forum with! There 's room for a sign on the L. there 's room for a couple of tents, camping. Of frequent usethose still have a chance to recover if left alone backpacking Hammocks can offer more in! Have any services found in summer pristine site camping, the District offers a variety of recreational. This time in late June site so that they dont create a visible path to dispose! With a stronger LNT focus road and then continues up to Liberty Springs, head to! Except on 2 of snow ) about 1.5 miles past the Lonesome Lake.... Up the old fire tower platform, look down to the white mountains again - this time in late.! Shelter sites these sites often do not build a fire during these conditions of. Small stream, south side of stream only 50-100 off trail flowing from the top of mountains and close designated. Tower platform, look down to the L at the center of area... On the L. there 's room for a sign on the south part.

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